ISLAMABAD: Hearing of the TCS and Smart Zone Company smuggling case has been postponed again until August 29 due to unavailability of Customs Judge Muhammad Ahmad Farooqi.
Former TCS CEO Saqib Hamdani and Manager Logistics Ghazanfar Gul turned up in the court. Both the accused are still on anticipatory bail and their bail before arrest has not been confirmed yet.
Earlier, it was reported that TCS with collaboration of Smart Zone Company had allegedly imported electronic gadgets worth billions under Afghan Transit cover without paying duty. Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigation (DG I&I) Rawalpindi had lodged FIR which later pushed TCS to sack its top employees to save its name.
The three culprits Chief Executive Saqib Hamdani, Regional Manager Logistics Ghazanfar Gul and Owner of Smart Zone Company Shakirullah appeared in front of DG I&I and recorded personal statements following their bail before arrest. Rawalpindi Director Zafar, Additional Director Muhammad Saleem along with Deputy Director Shahid Jan investigated the culprits.
A source from DG I&I told that the accused had failed to defend themselves during investigation. Customs authorities also got the copy of agreement between TCS and Smart Zone Company, which was dually signed by Saqib Hamdani and Shakirullah.
In their statements, TCS Chief executive Saqib Hamdani and Manager Logistics Ghazanfar had denied allegations and said that TCS had nothing to do with smuggling, as it only provided its warehouse for storage. On the other hand, Smart Zone Company owner Shakirullah in his statement claimed that goods were not smuggled rather they were imported legally. But when Customs officials asked him to provide customs with any proof, he failed to do so and also could not defend why goods worth billions bearing Afghan Transit stickers were present in TCS warehouse.
